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Christmas in the Peak District

Will we have a white Christmas this year? Who knows, but many of us hope so. We have failed in our personal quest to find winter tyres for our car (Honda Jazz) so are glad to say we do have two brand new toboggans with which to help transport any guests whose car fails at the last slope. Hopefully that may not happen at all this year but it never seems to cast much of a blight when it does. Everybody rallies round and it really is quite good fun.

Since the clocks changed one can no longer ignore the fact that winter is rapidly approaching and we have already had some November foggy spells although nothing too dramatic as yet. Suddenly also Christmas is looming as anyone who has been anywhere near the shops recently will suspect and we keep getting emails about the various events being planned; however, I’ll keep this simple and stick to our two favourites, Haddon and Chatsworth.

This year Haddon Hall is reopening for Christmas from 7th –21st December from 10.30 to 4pm (last admission 3.30pm).

14 & 15 December: Christmas by Candlelight: Festive music and entertainment in the Banqueting Hall. Supper from 6pm, the performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £15, pre-booking essential. Pre-performance Christmas suppers also available to book in the Restaurant. Phone 01629 810912.

17 & 18 December: Christmas music and carols performed by local choirs and musicians

There is masses on at Chatsworth, as always, with so many really tempting events that I can’t begin to list them all - Christmas markets, carols, a Christmas gourmet evening and even a magical Christmas party! The annual Christmas at the Farm Shop season has already started so it is never too soon to see what gorgeous goodies they have laid in for this year.

There will no doubt be masses more going on round and about but this will do for a start, for those who have planned a holiday here between now and Christmas. We do warn any guests that are planning to go out for a meal especially near to Christmas that it is probably wise to book the restaurant or pub sooner rather than later - also Ashbourne Taxis if you are planning to do it is style (01335 354 198).

Finally, nothing to do with Christmas but there is a long article on the Peak District in the November issue of Discover Britain. The sharp-eyed among you will spot on page 39 Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns featuring not in their own right but as members of Peak District Premier Cottages who took an ad out to promote all our local Peak District cottages.